Dad’s Shocking Prank Stuns His Daughter—But the Life-Saving Lesson Behind It Will Leave You Speechless!

When Hannah’s dad, Stacy, pulled off a heart-stopping prank, it wasn’t just for laughs — it was a true life lesson

Hannah Grace and her father Stacy Luna. Photo: happyhannahgrace/TikTok; Hannah Grace

When Hannah Grace posted a TikTok captioned “Thought I was about to lose my life outside of the Dollar General,” she never imagined it would go viral.

Hannah had stepped into a convenience store to grab a drink, leaving her car unlocked. Her father, Stacy, took the opportunity to hide his truck around the corner and climb into the backseat of her vehicle.

When she returned, Hannah instinctively checked her backseat and was startled to find someone sitting there. The video shows the moment she screams in shock after discovering Stacy sitting in her car.

“It took me a moment to register that it was my dad,” Hannah exclusively tells PEOPLE. “I didn’t have time to think of much; I was already screaming and turning to go back in the store.”

The prank may have been dramatic, but for Stacy, it was all part of his parenting style: teaching lessons with humor. “I’ve told her plenty of times to lock her doors, but she hasn’t listened,” he explains. “I thought this might [help].”

For him, the prank wasn’t just about safety — it was also about enjoying life and finding fun ways to tackle serious issues. “Life is short. Might as well have fun teaching the hard stuff,” he adds with a laugh.

Hannah admits that her dad’s lesson mostly worked, though she occasionally forgets to lock her doors. Growing up in a small town where leaving cars unlocked is common has made it difficult for her to break old habits.

Hannah Grace and her dad, Stacy.Hannah Grace

“Some people don’t realize that where I grew up, it is completely normal to leave even your house unlocked,” she shares. “I do understand that I should still lock them; it’s just taking some effort to train myself to do it completely.”

While the prank taught her an important safety lesson, it also highlights the special bond between Hannah and her father. “We are always playing pranks on each other or joking around,” Stacy notes. “A lot of people called it dramatic or extreme in the comments, but something like this is just our normal.”

Hannah’s admiration for her father goes far beyond his sense of humor: She credits him with instilling values like hard work and appreciation for life’s blessings.

“I got my first job at 14 to help me learn how to manage money and now work full-time, do social media and own a photography business,” she continues, adding that his emphasis on locking doors stems from his belief in protecting what you’ve worked hard for.

Hannah Grace and her dad, Stacy.Hannah Grace

“I am so fortunate to have a dad who is so invested and there for me,” Hannah notes. “He’s always been someone that adopts everyone and cares for everyone like his own family.”

For Stacy, the viral moment has been an opportunity to share his philosophy on life with others, “You have to have fun with life,” he shares. And while he suspects they’ll soon need to revisit the lesson on locking doors — “I bet if I walk outside, her car is unlocked right now,” he half-jokes — he wouldn’t hesitate to use the same teaching method again.